Russia, Ukraine trade airstrikes as reconstruction and security talks resume in Brussels

Kyiv, Ukraine - Russia and Ukraine engaged in a cycle of airstrikes overnight as negotiations aimed at discussing post-war reconstruction and security measures for the country were set to reconvene in Brussels, marking nearly five years since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion. The magnitude of the rebuilding challenge was evident in the latest Russian aerial assault and ongoing searches for victims of a devastating strike in southern Ukraine on Monday.

In response to the onslaught, Ukraine launched a barrage of drone attacks against Russian targets. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that their forces downed nearly 500 drones overnight.

Rescue teams continued to scour the rubble of a former school and nearby shelter in Komyshuvakha, located near the front line in the Zaporizhzhia region, where Russian guided bombs struck on Monday. The attack, which occurred as residents awaited humanitarian aid, resulted in the tragic loss of at least 42 lives. Ukraine's national police force reported that 42 bodies had been recovered from the devastation.

As talks regarding the future of Ukraine resume in Brussels, the scale of the rebuilding task becomes increasingly apparent in the aftermath of the ongoing conflict.